Chief Metallurgist: Hydromet & Heap Leach Leader

Mining; Casa Grande (AZ); On-site; USD 220,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonuses

Medical, dental and vision benefits

401(k) plan with employer contribution

Employee Share Purchase Plan

Tuition Assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Hudbay is seeking a Chief Metallurgist for the Cactus Mine Project in Casa Grande, AZ, to provide strategic leadership across all metallurgical functions from front-end processing through commissioning. You will mentor a multidisciplinary team, manage major EPCM contractors, and drive process optimization to achieve LME Grade A copper cathode production targets safely and efficiently.

The role requires a deep background in heap leach, SX/EW, and hydrometallurgy, with extensive leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing, or related field.
• 15+ years of progressive metallurgical engineering and technical management experience in large-scale mining or major projects.
• Minimum 5+ years in senior leadership or managerial roles.
• 3+ years of heap leach and SX/EW copper operations.
• Proven executive leadership with expertise in copper hydrometallurgy, heap leaching, and SX/EW processing.
• Strategic financial acumen: budget development, CAPEX/OPEX control, and contract negotiation.
• Knowledge of Safety in Design (SID), MSHA/OSHA regulations, and environmental compliance.

Responsibilities

• Provide overarching strategic and technical leadership for crushing, stacking, heap leaching, SX and EW operations.
• Direct metallurgical testwork programs, flowsheet development, and process optimization.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing metallurgy team and oversee EPCM consultants and labs.
• Establish long-term metallurgical strategy and governance to meet copper cathode targets.
• Champion safety, environmental sustainability, and regulatory compliance across processing designs.
• Drive executive-level technical decision-making, value engineering, and risk mitigation.
• Lead readiness, pre-commissioning, commissioning, and handover to operations.
• Govern departmental budgets (OPEX/CAPEX) and resource allocation.

Skills

Executive leadership

Metallurgical engineering

Copper hydrometallurgy

Heap leach

SX/EW processing

Budget management

Contract negotiation

Safety in Design

Team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Mineral Processing

Master's degree preferred

Professional Engineer (P.E.) license

Job description

Hudbay is seeking a Chief Metallurgist for the Cactus Mine Project in Casa Grande, AZ, to provide strategic leadership across all metallurgical functions from front-end processing through commissioning. You will mentor a multidisciplinary team, manage major EPCM contractors, and drive process optimization to achieve LME Grade A copper cathode production targets safely and efficiently.

The role requires a deep background in heap leach, SX/EW, and hydrometallurgy, with extensive leadership